Travel to discover
Journeys that connect people, places, and purpose.
From misty mountain villages to riverine lowlands, “Travel to Discover” brings you into the heart of Vietnam’s lesser-known communities—where culture is lived, nature is respected, and every journey leaves a positive footprint.
We offer a curated selection of sample tour itineraries designed in close collaboration with local communities practicing Community-Based Tourism (CBT). Whether it's a single-village experience or a multi-day itinerary linking several CBT destinations with shared values and development goals, each trip invites you to immerse yourself in authentic ways of life that few travelers have access to.
Walk through terraced rice fields with local guides, dye fabrics with indigo grown behind the homestay, cook meals with families who still pass down traditional recipes, or soak in a herbal bath prepared by generations of village healers. Along the way, learn how these communities are reclaiming their cultural identity and building futures through responsible tourism.
All trips can be adapted in duration and intensity depending on your preferences—from day tours to weekend escapes and longer discovery routes.
Wherever you go, you won’t just visit—you’ll connect.About the community
Hoa Binh Province is one of the cradles of ancient Vietnamese culture. With sweeping mountainous landscapes and rich culture, this province is sits at the entrance to the Northwest region of Vietnam and is home to Sung village.
The Dao Tiền community in this 300-year-old village get their name ‘Tiền’ from the coins attached to their traditional clothing. Outfits feature careful embroidery, deep indigo fabric and intricate patterns printed with hot beeswax. They believe that wearing an outfit embroided with stylized dogs, eight-petal flowers and decorating with coins brings luck and helps avoid ghosts when going to the forest.
Dao Tiền are a sub-group of the Dao ethnic group who mainly live in mountainous Northern provinces.
AoCBT’s involvement
Community-based tourism was introduced to Sung Village in 2017, with the support of Action on Poverty. The village began welcoming guests in April 2017 and now more than 50 households benefit from tourism. The village has three homestays, guided tours, performing arts, textile workshops and transports. All these activities have created jobs and increased income for the locals.
What to do
Sung Village is good location to unwind and relax. Enjoy the local cuisine such as pork, steamed sticky rice, vegetables, and grilled fish, always prepared with fresh ingredients and thoughtfully presented.
Explore Dao textiles & culture through Dao traditional costumes. Textiles are still handmade in Sung Village using traditional dyeing and embroidery techniques. Visit Mrs. Tien’s house where the embroidery group sells garments, bags and wall hangings, or come during the indigo season (between August and December) to watch the local women dye the cloth in huge vats of natural indigo.
Relax with Dao herbal bath, a natural health remedy used by the Dao ethnic group to promote circulation and general well-being. The warm bath is ‘brewed’ from a mixture of herbs and medicinal plants. Delightful little round wooden tubs set in a private room will give guests a restorative moment after outdoor activities.
Join a workshop to see the stages of making Do paper, a type of paper from the bark of the Do tree, made by a hand following a process passed down through generations in Sung Village. In the past, the Dao Tien people often used Do paper to take notes and to burn when worshiping.
There are also several stunning trekking routes around Sung Village. Travellers can trek to neighbouring Da Bia village weaving through rice fields while soaking up magnificent views of Hoa Binh Lake, or venture to nearby Sung Cave.
Where to stay
Shared accomodation
Sung Village currently has three homestays, each owned and maintained by a family from the community. These homestays were built and renovated based on the traditional house of the Dao people, with palm leaf roofs, wooden beds, and reading lights arranged at each bed. Visitors can sleep in single wooden beds with clean, comfortable linens and fresh towels, mattresses, and pillows. Every bed has a mosquito net and curtains that can be closed for extra privacy. Each homestay has about 12 beds.
Homestays in Sung village have water heaters and Wi-Fi. The bathrooms are separated from the main accommodation and from the hand washing area. There are no bathtubs, only showers available.
2. Private rooms
Sung Village offers thoughtfully upgraded private guest rooms that maintain local charm while enhancing comfort:
Ms. Tiên’s house offers a warm family atmosphere, private space, and sweeping valley views—perfect for those seeking both connection and quiet.
Hằng Quỳnh homestay features two bed-rooms, lush garden, natural light, and wood-finished interiors, ideal for couples, group of friends or nature lovers/workcation guests.
- Tài Lan homestay offers newly built stone-and-earth rooms with family-friendly layouts, bunk-style beds, and forest views—ideal for groups or parents with children.
Each home reflects the owner’s personality and dedication to authentic, community-based hospitality.
👉 Explore Tiên’s house
👉 Discover Hằng Quỳnh Homestay
When to go
Dry & cold season lasts from November to April. During the cooler months temperatures can drop to 12 °C.
Hot & humid season lasts from May to October. Temperatures during the hottest periods can reach up to 38-39 °C, however the average temperature for the district is 23.5°C.
Indigo season: between August and December is the best time to come if you would like to see local women dye cloth in natural indigo.
The district is situated in a subtropical monsoon climate and has two distinct seasons. During the rainy season flash floods often occur.
How to get there
1. Private Transfer
Door-to-door service from Hanoi to Sung Village.
Please contact us for a quote (price depends on group size and vehicle type). This is the most convenient and time-saving option, especially for families or small groups.
2. By Carpooling:
Carpool from Hanoi to Sung Village for around 650,000 VND/person (by 4–7 seater cars, operated by locals without any application). Advance booking required—we can assist.
Please note: As Sung is a remote area, transport demand is very limited and may cost more than to mainstream destinations.
3. By Public Bus (not recommended)
Take a bus from My Dinh Station (Hanoi) to Hoa Binh City (~2 hours, every 15 mins, ~60,000 VND/person, look for “Xe Bình An – Hòa Bình”). Then transfer to a bus from Hoa Binh City to Cao Son Commune (~1 hour, every 30 mins, ~35,000 VND/person, look for “Xe 07 Thung Nai – Cao Sơn”). From Cao Son, take a motorbike taxi (~12 km, around 250,000 VND/person).
While this is the cheapest option, it requires multiple transfers and can be time-consuming and tiring.
Let us know your preference—we’re happy to help arrange the most suitable transport for your journey.
Contact
- (+84) 024 3856 2421
- info@actiononcbt.com
- 30/12 Dang Thai Mai, Quang An, Tay Ho, Hanoi